Retort-discharging apparatus



APPLICATION FILED NOV- 22- I M MM 5 9 5 9 1T 2 6 9H 00 2H T 4 M M L m DHT m P 6 S. B. RUSSELL. RETORT DISCHARGING AP PARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. I920- Pa tented Dec. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Is 4 M L J F LI and capable of Patented Dec. l2, lQZZ,

SILAS RUSSELL, GE ST. LOUIS,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 PARKER-RUSSELL MINING 8r, IdANUFACTUEtING COMPANY;OF ST. LQUIS, MISSOUEI,A' COBEORATION OF WIISSOUBI.

application filed.

1 to (:1 N in item. it may concernlie it known that l; Suns citizen oilthe United B. Rnssnnn, a

Louis Missouri, have invented a certain new and. useful Improvement inRetort-Discharging Apparatus, of Which the follow ing is a full, clear,and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same. a

This invention relates to apparatus oi the kind that through retorts oropen-ended retorts for dislodging or discharging the niaterialirom suchretorts. It relates particularly toretort dischargingdevices of the kindwhich comprise a ram adapted to be introduced GYldWlSB into the rear endof a through retort, and meansfor enabling said ram to be raised andlowered so as to bring it into alignment with any one of a plurality oftiers of retorts arranged at different levels. a

a The main obj ect of my invention is to provide a retort dischargingapparatus of the general type just referred to Which is so constructedthat the mechanismused "for moving the ram or pusher into and out of theretorts does not move vertically with the ram when the level of the ramis changed to bring; it into alignment Withthe retorts of the differenttiers, thereby making it possible to materially reduce the Weight of theapparatus and simplify the construction of same and also overcome thenecessity of having the operator in charge of the apparatus ride on apart that israised or low cred when the level of the ram is changed.

Another object of my inventionis to pro-- vide a discharging device .toropen-ended retorts which is of such design that it is particularlyadapted for use in connection With inclined retorts, and jfurthermoracan be operated easily by hand power. Qther ob jects and desirablefeatures or my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

To this end I have devised a retort discharging apparatus which, brieflydescribed, consists of a supporting structurearranged at one side of abench of open-ended retorts being moved longitudinally of the bench, acarriage mounted on said supporting structure and adapted to be movedtowards and away from therear ends of the retorts in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis of States residing at are used inconnection -With,

or pushing device that is" BETOBT-DISGHARGING APPARATUS.

November 22, 11-220. Serial No. 425375;

the retorts, a ramor pusher carried by the carriage and adapted to beintroduce-dinto the retorts so astodislodge the material in the retortsor discharge said material through the front ends of the retorts meansfor enabling the level of said ram orpusher to be varied so as to bring.itinto alignment with the retorts of the dififferent "tiers, and anoperating -II16Cl12LI11SID tor said carriage mounted on apart of saidsupporting structure that is. stationary with respect to the carriageand the ram. In the form of my invention herein illustrated saidsupporting structure is suspended from a trucl: that travels on anoverhead track and the ram or pusher is carried by a shiftable memberthatslides vertically in a frame or guideivay that dependsfromthecarriage. Said vertically-movable member is counterbalanced so that'itcan be easily raised and lowered to bring the ram or alignment with aparticular bench o1? retorts, and tuating the carriagepreferablyconsists of a cable or similar device and a inding; drum andcounterweight mechanism combined with said Winding drum in such a mannerthat very little power is required to turn the drumto actuate thecarriage andmoreover, the carriage will remain at rest when theoperating pressure is removed from the Winding drum, even though thetrack on which the carriage travels is inclined, as is necessary whenthe apparatus is designed for use vith inclined retorts, l WlSlilt topusher into tier of the the mecl' anism for 'ac be understood howeverthat the particular construction and method of operating the supportingstructure is immaterial ythatthe ram or pusher can be mounted on thecarriage in various other Ways and that various other means thanjthatherein illustrated can be employed for actuating the carriageivithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. a Figure l. of the drawingsis a side elevational view 0? a retort discharging appa ratus:constructed in accordance with my invention. a y

liigure 2 is anend view oi looking from one end of same rear ends of theretorts.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the ram or pusher illustratingthe lockingdevice that is used for holding the extensible section oi? the ram inits extended position.

said apparatus, towards the llO taken on the lines 4% Figuresl and arecross-sectional views,

and 55, respectively, of Figure 3; and i H I Figure 6 is a- .detail yiewof one of. the locking devices on the supporting structure of theapparatus that is used for holding the extensible section of the ram atrest when the carriage is being moved to telethe ram. Referring to thedrawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention,

-A designates the supportingstructure of torts composed of a pluralityof tiers of re-- my improved apparatus which is preferably built upprincipally of commercially rolled shapes such as channel irons, and Adesignates a movable trucl-r traveling on an overhead track from whichthe supporting structure A is suspended, said truck being so arrangedthat the supporting structure A can be moved longitudinally of a benchof retorts zr. It is immaterial what form of truck is used for carryingthe supporting structure A and in some forms of aratus I orefer 7 i l l1 to mount the su aoortin structure A on the I n v L. truck or a -cha-rin lorr*. The a) aratus herein illustrated 18 designed for use withinclined, openbnded retorts, and therefore, the supporting structure Ais shown as being provided withan inclined track B arranged in parallel1 reel the r'etorts, so as to form a runway for a carriage (I providedwith a ram or pusher C the carriage C from that adapted to be introducedendwise into the rear ends of theretorts so as to dislodge the materialtherein or discharge the contents of the reto'rts, W hen the apparatusis designed for use with horizontal retorts the track B will, of course,be arranged in a horizontal position. Moreover, while i have illustratedthe supporting structure A as being suspended from an overhead truck. Iwish it to be understood that it is immaterial, so, far as my inventionis concerned, how said structure is mounted, so long; as it can beshifted longitudinally of the bench of retorts. In order to steady thesupportingstructure A it is preferable to provide the lower end portionof said supporting structure with a roller 1, as shown in Figure 1, thatbears against the curb 2 of the floor 2 on which the operator in chargeof the apparatus stands.

The inclined track B to is preferably formed by two channels ar rangedopposite to each other in parallel relation with the flanges of therespective channels projecting towards each other, as shown in the upperportion of Figure 2.

he carriage C, which may be of any pre ferred form and construction, isprovided with wheels or rollers 3 which are of such diameter thatbetween the flanges on the track B to prevent tilting during the dispreviously referred ation to the longitudinal axes 7 they will fitsnugly enough the retorts by a mechanism which preferably consists of awinding drum I) (see Figure 2) and a cable at secured to the upper endof the carriageC and extending from same over a sheave 5 carried by abracket on the upper end of the track B, downwardly from said sheave 5to an idler drum or sheave 6 carried by a bracket on the lower part ofthe supportingstructure A, under said sheave 6 and around the drum D,thence upwardly from said drum over a. sheave 7 mounted on the upper endportion of the track B, downwardly from the sheave 7 around a sheave 8arranged adjacent the lower end of the track B, and thenceupwardly fromthe sheave 8 to the lower end of the carriage C, as shown clearly inFigure l. The winding drum D is rigidlyconnected to a horizontally-disposed shaft 9 mounted inbearings on the lower part of the supportingstructure and a means of any preferred type or construction is providedfor rotating said drum in one direction, so as to cause the carriage Qto moredownwardly towards the retorts and to rotate said drum in theopposite direction so as to move said carriage upwardly back to itsnormal position. In the apparatus herein illustrated a manually operatedmeans is employed for turning the drum D. which means consists of'ahorizontally-dis posed shaft 10 arranged in parallel relation to theshaft 9 in hearings on the lower part of the supporting structure A, ahand wheel shaft, 9.,

The hand wheel 11 is so disposed that it can be operated conveniently bya workman standing on the floor 2. V hile I prefer to use a handoperated mechanism for actuating the carriage C, I wish it to beunderstood that a v-other suitable means could be used for acti tingsaid carriage without de parting'from the spirit of my invention, Acounterweight mechanism is preferably combined vith the operatingmechanism for the carriage Cso asto make it possible for a singleworkman to move said carriage back and forth on its track B and also toinsure said carriage remaining at rest in. any position on an inclinedtrack such as the track B when pressure is removed from the hand wheel11 of the carriage operating mecha' nism, One form of counterweightmechanism that lhave found to be well adapted for this purpose consistsof a nected to'the lower end of a cable or other suitable device M whichleads upwardly from said weight over a sheave 15 supported by the trackB, and thence downwardly to a that is rigidly connected to the drum 16which weight G con-:

of the extensible which is arranged the depending frame ll on thecarriage. By the time the carriage 3 reaches its elevated position thefront end or lower end oft-he section of the ram WI. 1 have reached therear end orupper end section 21 of the rain. the operator inoves latchinto the position shown in Figures 3 and he two sections of the rainsaid sections have been 7 the bolt or holding de- 6 so to'release theextensible section of tllG-TLUB from t e supporting structure A. Thenext operation is to move the carriage- C downwardly on the track B, or

Thereafter,

towards the retorts so as to cause the head ou the 3o travel through thefront end half otthe rt and discharge the material from same. i oer thematerial has been discharged troin the retort the carriage C is movedupwardly onits traclnthus Withdraw. from the retort thesection 20 of therain and arrangi the member 27 on the upper end of the extensiblesectio'nQO of the ram in proximity to the upper belt or holding device26 on the supporting structure-Aj To'telescope the rain or retract thesection 21 it is'necessary for the operator to first trip the latch 25and then move the holding device 26 into engagement with the member 27on the extensible section of the ram so as to loci-z said extensiblesection to the supporting structure A. Cl horeaL-iter, the carriage C ismoved downwardly on its track, and when said carriage reaches itslowermost position, as shown in broken lines in Figure l, the latch 24is actuated as to move said latch. into engagement with the cart 523 onthe extensible section of the rain and the holding bolt 26 is thenWithdrawn so as to release said extensible section from the supportingstructure A of the apparatus. Thereafter, the carriage C moved upwardlyto its elevated position thus causing the rain to be Withdrawn from theretort.

@ne desirable feature of a retort dischargino paratus oi": theconstruction aboveda I cd is that the operating mechanism i causes theram to move into and out 1 the retort is mounted on a partof thesupporting structure Off the apparatus which is stationary with respectto the A0 cordingly,such an apparatus can be made much lighterthan anapparatus in which the operating mechanism for moving the into and outof the'retorts is carried by a part of the apparatus which is raised orlower d when the elevation of the ram is changed. Another desirablefeature of such an apparatus is that the operator in charge of same canbe" stationed on the floor at the rear of the retort bench instead of tomove into and out or a track on said means, and a v one direction andoperated easily by hand power, and it can be usedv succssiully fordislodgingor disrot 'i from long, open-ended and either horizontally orinters Patent, is

l. I: retort discharging apparatus $011k.

prising a supporting structure. lngcarriage on said support 1 provide'ith a rigid rain t is adapted e o t when the t l noves in oppositedniections means for enao said rain to be raised and lOW- ered with ie"on to said cai' riage, and an operating mechanism for said carriagecarried by said supporting structure.

i retort discharging apparatus, 'conr prisirfi a supportingstructure.

L1. supporting structure arranged in parallel relation tothe'longitudinal axes the retorts with Which the apparatus is used, areciprocating carriage on said track provided with avertically-disposedguiding icallyanovable ineinber combined with said guiding means andprovided w h a pusher that is adaptedto niove endiviseii o oneen'd of aretort when said carriage inoves longitudinally of its track indischarge the material in said retort through the opposite end or V i.retort discharging apparatus,- corng supportin q' structure areciprocat- E7) .15 prisin c rriage on said structure arranged toil'lUVG in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxes'of the retorts With WlliClT'ti'lfi apparatus is used, carried bysaid carriage and adapted toenter one end o1 a retort andmove-longitudinally of same so as to dischargethe contents of the retortthrough the opposite end of the retort, means for enabling said rain tobe raised and lowered with relation to said carriage Without destroyingthe parallel relationship between said carriage and T111115 and anoperating'niechanisn r said carriage mounted on said supper-tinstructure. j

{hit retort discharging apparatus, coniprising a supporting structure,-

rec1procating carriage on said supporting structure arran'f'ed to movein a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes oft-heretorts'ivi h vhichthe apparatus is used, a depending frame on saidcarriage, and a vertically-inovable member in said provided Witha rainthat is adapted to enter one end of a retort and ofsanie so as todischarge the contents of the retort through theopposite end 01 same.

5. A retort discharging apparatus, com prising a supporting structure areciprocating carriage onsaid supporting structure arranged to move in adirection substantially parallel to-thelongitudinal axes of the re astationary same.

a rigid rain I frame Inove longitudinally a which t 1e apparatus tortsWilli. used and a .u/ aaliyadpistable, counter -bal:

rani on said carriage. that is adapted j ter one end of a retort and diycbaig e opposite end of the re ort when carriage moves in one direction.

6 it retort discha 'ng appaip prising a supporting s" icture areciprocatinp; carriage on said supporting structure provided with arigid .ra n. that is adapted tl'irough a contents of the retort throng ito enter and more longitudinally retort when said carriage travels inone di rection', and a counter-weighted operat .nechanisno for actuatingsaid carriage an rani.

with the tier of retorts- 8. i1 discharging" apparatus for retorts,comprising a supportingstructure a stationary track on said supportingstructure,

a carriage on said track provided with a re- I a winding drurnniountedstructure and a cable wound around said drum and Connected. to saidcarriage for moving said carriage in a direction to cause the rain to beinserted in or withdrawn from retort.

9. A discharging comprising a supporting structure, a track on saidsupporting structure, a carriage on said track provided with a T511111,a winding drum mounted on said supporting; structure, a cable woundaround said drum and connected to said carriage for moving said carwhensaid drum is rotatech and counterweight mechanism combined with saiddrum and consisting 0'5 a cable connected to the drum and a device thatcauses said cable to exert pressure on said druin tending to turn thedrurn in one direction.

10. A. discharging apparatus for inclined retorts, comprising asupporting structure. an inclined track on said, support si' ture areciprocating carriage on so] and a rigid rain on said car" go adaptedto enter one end of an open-en retort and more longitudinally throughciprocating rain, on said supporting the same when said carriage movesin one direc-,

tion, thereby discharging the contents or". the retort through theopposite end of". same,

11. A discharging apparatusfor inclined retorts, comprising a supportingstructure,

an inclinedtrack on said supporting struc ture, a carriage on said trackprovided with apparatus for retorts,

a frame, a rerticaily ni ya ole rnember in paid iiraine and a rainconnected to reracanyunovable member.

15). it. discharging one at i an inclined track on said sup structure,acarriage on said ride-4i with a ,deway a; rerticali movable nieinb'sr"i'eway a rain connected d rer- "bie member, an o; said c rriage carriedby 1r and counterbalance ill anisni porting; combined with theyeriicaliy-nim'abie in her that carries the rain.

18. it. discharging ap'paratu retorts, comprisin a support: aninclinedtraclron said supportin; i ture, a carr age on said track pushercarried by said 'oarriage, means enabling; the elevation of said pusherto be chan ed and operating means for comprising a cable connected tosite ends of the carriage, sheaves at the ends or saidtraclt over whichsaid cable passes, and a winding drum on said. supporting structurearound which said cable extends.

14:. A discharging apparatus for inclined retorts, comprising asupporting structure an inclined track on said supporting structure,a-carriage on said track, a rerticaliycan a disposed iraine projectingdownwardly from said carriage, a vertically-movable niernber slidingiyrnounted in said frame, a

rain connected to Said member, an operating mechanism for said carriagecarried by said supporting structure, and a balancing device combinedwith said rain for the purpose described.

15. A discharging apparatus for openended retorts, oomprisii g areciprocating carriage a ram comprising two portions, one oi which canbe moved relatively to the other to increase the length ofthe rain, andmeans for locking the extensible portion of the ram in its extended andretracted positions. 1

16. A retort discharging apparatus, contiprising a carriage, raincarried by said carriage and comprising two portions that are arrangedin telescopic relation during the first part of the dischargingoperation, and means iorholding one portion of the rain stationary withrespect to theother portion when the carriage is moved in a directioneither to increase or decrease the length of the ram. i

17. A discharging apparatus for retorts, comprising a carriage, a ramcarried by said carriage and comprising ranged in telescopic relation,means for locking said portions together when the carriage is moved inthe direction to introduce the ram into one end of a retort, means forholding one section of the rare at rest when the carriage is moved inthe opposite directhe oppotelescopic relation, latches for holding theof the ram either in their col- .lapsed or extended condit on, and meanstwo portions for connecting the extensible portion of the ram to saidsupporting structure When'the carriage is moved in a direction either toincrease; or decrease the length of the ram.

discharging apparatus for open-.

19. A discharging apparatus for retorts comprising a shiftablesupporting structure, a track on said supporting structure, areciprocating carriage on said track provided With a depending guide, averticallymovable member combined with said guide a ram carried by saidmember and comprising an extensible portion, means for holding theextensible portion of the ram in its extended and retracted positions,and an operating mechanism for said carriage carried by said supportingstructure for moving said carriage in a direction to cause said ram toenter one end of an open-ended retort and move longitudinally of same,thereby causing the contents of the retort to be discharged from theopposite end of the retort. v

SILAS B. RUSSELL.

